The New England Fishery Management Council opens a three-day meeting in Newport, R.I., with a roster of devilish details, notably catch limits on groundfish species as well as pollock and herring, to establish the start of the hotly disputed era of catch shares, expected to begin next May.
In addition, the council faces proposed reductions in the fishing efforts allowed members of the common pool — those fishermen who have not joined the sectors or fishing cooperatives tied to the catch share system. The system has triggered intense consolidation nearly everywhere the commodification market principles were used.
Highlighting the meeting are anticipated decisions on the size of the allowable catch of herring, to be discussed today, and the allowable catches of the groundfish stocks, which are expected to be set Wednesday.
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.